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How 3D Artists Can Make Money Online

The job market for 3D artists can be very complicated to understand, especially for people who aren’t that experienced. First of all, it’s important to understand that 3D artists can have different specializations. There are countless career paths for 3D designers and some of them are:

- Technical directors

- Art Directors

- Graphic artists

- Video editors

- 3D modeling

- And others

These are just some of the few career paths 3D artists can take and it can be difficult for young professionals to find their path. However, even when you’ve specialized in a certain area, the chaotic job market could be difficult to navigate, even online.

This is why we’ve decided to create this post and help you understand which options you have for finding a job online.

1. Using freelance websites

One of the most common ways 3D artists find work is through freelance platforms. The freelance market is constantly growing and there is more work each day. At the same time, there are more freelance platforms where people can find jobs.

These websites are really simple to use and everyone can find their way around them. The first thing you need to do is register, and create your own account. After you’ve added all the important details about your education, skills, and experience, you can start applying for jobs.

The more successful you are, the better the jobs you will be able to find. All freelance platforms have rating systems give the final score for each freelancer. This makes it easier for employers to find reliable freelancers that will do a good job.

2. LinkedIn opportunities

LinkedIn is a professional social network where people from various fields can find jobs. This includes 3D artists as well. However, you need to put in the necessary time and effort into maintaining your LinkedIn profile to start finding job opportunities. Similarly to freelance platforms, this network has various categories where you can add credentials, skills, and even your own blog posts.

Even though LinkedIn can’t help beginner 3D artists, over time, it can become a great tool for finding work. As soon as you connect with many people and establish a network of professionals from the same industry, you will be able to discover jobs for which you are qualified.

At the same time, if you update your profile and have a lot of reliable credentials, you will start getting job offers without doing anything. A lot of companies hire full-time or freelance 3D artists from LinkedIn through their recruiters. Furthermore, make sure to connect with companies or studios you would like to work for as you never know when an opportunity may come around.

3. Make material packs for a 3D software

This is probably the most common way 3D artists make money. A lot of professionals do this full-time but some use this option to make some additional cash on the side. Today, there are many 3D software tools used for different projects and in different fields. While they work, 3D artists often need materials that they can use for their project.

However, most of these tools don’t have a lot of options when it comes to materials. Instead of having to waste their time to create these materials, people often buy or import them from somewhere. These 3D material packages are made by other 3D artists to help create a larger database within a certain software solution.

There are always these kinds of opportunities. In some cases, new software solutions need material packs, sometimes existing tools need to be updated, and in some cases, companies just want to upgrade their packages so that they can work on their projects more easily.

4. Network online

Networking online is just as important as in the real world. The 3D design world is very specific and this is why companies often hire people through referrals. Even if a recruiter finds you somewhere online, they will be reluctant to hire you because they know nothing about you or your skills. If you want to get closer to them, you will have to network.

Start off by being active on social media, blogs, and other platforms where you can find people from the same industry. A simple chat with someone who works at a company you like could potentially lead to you getting an interview for a position there. One of the best places to do this is LinkedIn.

Given the fact that LinkedIn is a very active platform where professionals like to discuss important issues, share their thoughts, and learn about new industry trends, it’s a perfect platform for making a meaningful connection. On top of that, if you are able to extend these relationships to the world, then your chances of getting recommended will greatly increase.

5. Build an online portfolio

Having a good online portfolio is essential for any type of 3D artist. To have a continuous streak of success, you need to build a cohesive collection of your past works. Your portfolio showcases your ability to work on different kinds of project and the level of technical knowledge you have.

When potential clients are looking for visualization artists, 3D designers, or rendering professionals, they usually want to see examples of their work. It’s how they can assess their knowledge and whether they should take them into consideration. An online portfolio allows you to impose yourself as a reliable professional.

Luckily, there are many 3D artist portfolio websites where you can quickly set up your own page and add examples of your work. However, it’s also a good idea to have a website of your own, to promote it through social media.

6. Build your own blog

If you plan on building a professional website, apart from creating a portfolio page, you should also have a blog section. You might think that blogs are a thing of the past but, in a small niche like 3D art, it matters more than ever. A blog is a great opportunity to share your thoughts, ideas, work, and give a detailed explanation of how you approached different projects.

Updating your blog frequently will give you the ability to share new content online and engage with other people. This could lead to valuable connections, you will engage in discussions and even get direct job offers. Sharing blog posts on social media will show that you are active and dedicated to your work.

Each post is you publish is a potential opportunity for something meaningful. Furthermore, you might end up building a good audience around your blog that could lead to other opportunities. For example, a lot of 3D artists use their blogs to give their younger colleges some valuable lessons.

7. Sell your 3D work on stock sites

All 3D artists have leftovers from their work lying around on their workstations. Instead of pilling them on your hard disk, you can use this to your advantage and potentially make money. There are various stock image, video, animation, rendering, and 3D model websites where you can display and sell all your work.

They are pretty simple to use and the only thing you need to do is set up an account and upload your work. Just because you don’t have any use for some of your designs doesn’t mean that there aren’t people out there who will find value in it.

Uploading your work won’t take you more than a few hours and it could potentially get you passive income each month. Every time you finish a project and end up with some material you don’t need, upload it to one of these sites. Over time, you will have a lot of items displayed and this could bring you a solid amount of money.

8. Do some editing

One of the most lucrative fields where almost every 3D artist can make use of their skills is post-editing. No matter if we are talking about images, renderings, videos, or animations, there are always people looking for editing services. A lot of photographers and videographers need a person who will edit their work on a regular basis.

They don’t have the knowledge do this on their own and it takes a lot of their time away. Every photographer would rather spend time working on their shooting skill rather than spending time on editing images. This is why there is a huge demand for photo editing services.

Even though this kind of work is often repetitive, it can help you improve your skills. It also might lead to some better job opportunities and help you build a better portfolio.

Even though the 3D industry is very small there are many opportunities you can explore. Remember that you aren’t limited to pursuing one source of income. Try out several options and see what you like best.